HC Deb 14 October 1968 vol 770 cc1-4
1. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has for the production of further 300-ton hover-ships; and if he will seek to make finance available for research into the development of 5,000-ton hover-ships to be used for rapid cross-Atlantic freight and passenger transport.

18. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state his plans for the production of hoverships ranging in size from 400 to 4,000 tons, which would be suitable for industrial and passenger communications between Aberdeen and Northern Europe.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Technology (Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu)

The Department is now discussing with industry the design of craft of 300–500 tons to follow the 160 ton SRN4. Until we know the answers to the problems associated with the development of the former it would be unwise to start serious work on still larger sizes.

Mr. Roberts

Would my hon. Friend not agree, however, that there are enormous possibilities in this development, where Britain has already a lead from the point of view of both land and sea transport? Would he accept that it is of overwhelming importance to have longterm research if we are to maintain our technological position?

Mr. Mallalieu

I am quite sure that my hon. Friend is right, but we are concentrating the bulk of our research on these medium sizes at the moment.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister realise that the point of my Question is that Aberdeen and North-East Scotland are being neglected as regards communications with the Continent? What steps is he taking to apply this development to improve that condition, as contrasted with the Channel Tunnel and the other steps which have been made to connect South-East England with the Continent?

Mr. Mallalieu

I realised that my hon. and learned Friend would have some such point in mind. So far as hovercraft are concerned, they would need a range of something like 500 miles, and this is all part of the present consideration.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Arising from Question No. 1, would the hon. Gentleman not agree that one of the most important factors which will have to be decided on this matter is whether we are to go to a solid or fixed sidewall or all-round skirting? Have the experiments so far with the HM.2 led to any firm conclusions on this point?

Mr. Mallalieu

The two are not exclusive, and there are possible developments in both directions.

Mrs. Ewing

Arising out of Question No. 18, does the Minister realise that the policies of successive London-based Governments have had the effect of cutting off Scotland from European links with the mainstream of international communications? Would he consider this proposal seriously as being a way of redressing the trend?

Mr. Mallalieu

I do not accept that Scotland has been cut off, but I see the importance of the development of hovercraft for trade with Northern Europe.

22. Mr. Woodnutt

asked the Minister of Technology what consideration he has given to seeking co-operation with the United States Government in research into multi-thousand-ton hovercraft.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

The Department and the firms concerned are in contact with both the United States and Canadian authorities on all sizes of hovercraft and there is a useful exchange of visits and general information. Our immediate task is to support the United Kingdom industry having particularly in mind potential overseas markets and the craft most suited to them.

Mr. Woodnutt

From what the Minister said in answer to Question No. 1, it appears that we are not doing anything about this multi-thousand-ton hovercraft. The Minister said that we were concentrating on the medium-sized hovercraft. As we are not doing it ourselves, we should be co-operating actively with the Americans in the huge programme which they have launched into research on this multi-thousand-ton hovercraft. Unless we do, we shall lose the lead that we have built up over the years.

Mr. Mallalieu

I see the hon. Gentleman's point, but I think that at the moment it is more important for us to concentrate on research and development into the smaller-sized craft while maintaining our exchange of information with the United States on the larger-sized one.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

May I ask the Minister not to forget the important aspect of tracked hovercraft? May I also ask him to do all that he can to avoid the Americans stealing a march on us on that one?

Mr. Mallalieu

Yes, Sir. A considerable amount of money and effort is being spent in this country on tracked hovercraft.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

Will the Minister make available the results of the trials of the smaller hovercraft in Hong Kong and also in the Queensland exercises which have just finished, so that the advantages of this craft for military purposes can be drawn to the attention of all our allies in the Commonweath countries?

Mr. Mallalieu

I think that it is being done, but I shall make absolutely certain about it.

Sir A. V. Harvey

Will the Minister be particularly careful in respect of any collaboration with the Americans on hovercraft, bearing in mind that when de Havilland collaborated with Boeing on the Trident aircraft Boeing took all they could out of the project and then walked out and built their own?

Mr. Mallalieu

This is a matter to be watched.